French Tourist Bookings to Morocco Expected to Rebound in August After Slow July

Contrary to the Minister of Tourism and some national operators who attribute the decline in the arrival of French tourists to Morocco to the holding of early legislative elections, the European Cup and the Olympic Games, René-Marc Chikly rather evokes the uncertainty of access to the Parisian airports (Orly and CDG). "It is the uncertainty about the difficulty of accessing the airports that has meant that, for the first time in years, apart from the Covid period, the month of July has seen such a decline," he explains to Médias24.

The arrival of foreign tourists in Paris to attend the Olympic Games creates traffic jams in the French capital, which remains the starting point for French tourists wishing to go to Morocco for their summer vacation, adds the president of the Union of Tour Operating Companies (SETO), stressing that the difficulties of getting around the city due to the closure of certain highways would have led many French people to give up their travel plans.

"This unprecedented situation has led to a decline in July of all European source markets, including France (by 6%), which should continue until early August," says René-Marc Chikly, who believes that the decline observed in July is cyclical and temporary and that the recovery will be there from the second weekend of August, marking the end of the Olympic Games. Bookings have reached a "very satisfactory" level, and "a large wave of departures will take place around August 10," he assures.

The SETO president adds that in reality, "French tour operators are counting on the late season to catch up with several long weekends, especially All Saints’ Day, which will take place after the end of the school holidays." According to him, travel agencies expect a minimum growth of 6.2% in August compared to the same period in 2023. Morocco should also benefit from the demonstrations against mass tourism in Spain and welcome many French tourists as last year, hopes René-Maroc Chikly.